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Literacy specialist vs 5th grade teacher

The differences between literacy specialists and 5th grade teachers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a literacy specialist has an average salary of $59,520, which is higher than the $46,300 average annual salary of a 5th grade teacher.

The top three skills for a literacy specialist include instructional strategies, school administration and assessment data. The most important skills for a 5th grade teacher are classroom management, math, and professional development.

Literacy specialist vs 5th grade teacher overview

Literacy Specialist5th Grade Teacher
Yearly salary$59,520$46,300
Hourly rate$28.62$22.26
Growth rate-6%4%
Number of jobs2,56257,358
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Bachelor's Degree, 70%
Average age4342
Years of experience4-

What does a literacy specialist do?

A literacy specialist ensures accurate and correct recording reporting and document keeping. These professionals manage literacy support by organizing staff instructions and schedules. Besides providing and supporting data analysis and literacy assessment, a literacy specialist also acts as a useful resource for families, administrators, assistant teachers, and teachers. They promote professional development by supporting, coaching, and guiding teachers with instructional practices and literacy programs. Moreover, literacy specialists oversee the learning institution's literacy program.

What does a 5th grade teacher do?

A 5th Grade Teacher is responsible for educating children and teaching them subjects like math, English, science, or art. They work in a public or private school at the elementary level.

Literacy specialist vs 5th grade teacher salary

Literacy specialists and 5th grade teachers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Literacy Specialist5th Grade Teacher
Average salary$59,520$46,300
Salary rangeBetween $45,000 And $77,000Between $33,000 And $64,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYWashington, DC
Highest paying stateNew YorkNew Jersey
Best paying companyExcel Academy Charter SchoolsCAI
Best paying industryRetailEducation

Differences between literacy specialist and 5th grade teacher education

There are a few differences between a literacy specialist and a 5th grade teacher in terms of educational background:

Literacy Specialist5th Grade Teacher
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Bachelor's Degree, 70%
Most common majorElementary EducationElementary Education
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Literacy specialist vs 5th grade teacher demographics

Here are the differences between literacy specialists' and 5th grade teachers' demographics:

Literacy Specialist5th Grade Teacher
Average age4342
Gender ratioMale, 16.0% Female, 84.0%Male, 24.2% Female, 75.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.0% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.3% Asian, 5.4% White, 62.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%Black or African American, 10.1% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 3.7% White, 68.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage12%9%

Differences between literacy specialist and 5th grade teacher duties and responsibilities

Literacy specialist example responsibilities.

  • Assist children on the autism spectrum academically and socially to achieve integration into a mainstream educational environment.
  • Coordinate family ESL classes with childcare.
  • Tutor and periodically assess multiple small groups of students of varying ages and abilities in science, mathematics, and literacy.
  • Used manipulatives to teach basic fundamentals in mathematics.
  • Plan and organize public awareness events to promote dyslexia awareness and ascertain the needs in the community for individualize instruction.
  • Provide daily intensive data-driven literacy instructional support and intervention for at-risk students.
  • Show more

5th grade teacher example responsibilities.

  • Collaborate with peers to enhance the instructional environment, implement kindergarten through second grade state standards and follow district curriculum maps.
  • Support literacy through the implementation of reading and writing workshops that are based on at-risk and ESL students.
  • Conduct RTI for a small group of tier 2 reading level students daily to improve literacy and writing skills.
  • Provide lesson plans, IEP's, progress reports and attend to the day-to-day activities for children with special needs.
  • Develop strategies to collect data to use in PST meetings for students in need of an IEP and support services.
  • Assist kindergarten and 1st grade teachers with setting up activities, administering tests, grading work, and reviewing student progress.
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Literacy specialist vs 5th grade teacher skills

Common literacy specialist skills
  • Instructional Strategies, 11%
  • School Administration, 8%
  • Assessment Data, 7%
  • Staff Development, 6%
  • Curriculum Development, 5%
  • English Language, 5%
Common 5th grade teacher skills
  • Classroom Management, 19%
  • Math, 12%
  • Professional Development, 7%
  • Social Studies, 6%
  • Student Learning, 5%
  • Instructional Materials, 4%

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